Drink-driver caught in Chesterfield after he was stopped with no lights on

Published:08:28Friday 15 January 2016

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A motorist was caught drink-driving after he was stopped by police because he was travelling without his headlights on.

Marcin Wojciech Struzik, 29, of Stand Road, Chesterfield, was spotted and stopped by police on Stand Road and was found to be nearly twice over the legal drink-drive limit, according to Chesterfield magistrates’ court.

Prosecuting solicitor Rod Chapman told a sentencing hearing: “The defendant came to the notice of the police because his Vauxhall Astra didn’t have its headlights on and this caused the police to stop the vehicle.

“Officers formed the impression Struzik was under the influence of alcohol and a road side breath test was taken which he failed.”

Mr Chapman added during the hearing on Wednesday, January 13, that Struzik gave a further reading at the police station of 68 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath when the legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Struzik pleaded guilty to exceeding the alcohol drink-drive limit after the incident on December 20, last year.

Defence solicitor Steve Brint said: “He’s a Polish national married with a young child and he moved here six months ago.

“His wife works at Sport Direct in Shirebrook and he had worked at Tesco temporarily in Chesterfield on a temporary basis.

“He had got home from work and had a few drinks and he went out in the car to get provisions.

“There was no dangerous driving but as he set off in the dark the headlights were switched off.”

Magistrates fined Struzik £120 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.